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New indoor league needs to have smart owners, realistic goals

Here's the biggest concern I have about the new professional indoor soccer league that's being planned to kick off this fall: It's going to be too big. I understand the need to have more teams. That means more

New indoor league needs to have smart owners, realistic goals

Here's the biggest concern I have about the new professional indoor soccer league that's being planned to kick off this fall: It's going to be too big. I understand the need to have more teams. It means more make the playoffs instead of four, as was the case in the seven-team Major Indoor Soccer League, which always felt like it never lived up to its name. I just don't think right now there are 20 good soccer markets out there for the indoor game, even if you're going coast to coast and sea to shining sea. That's why the owners from the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) who are merging their product with the defectors from the MISL, including the 3-year-old Rochester Lancers, should make sure they do this right, the first time, because you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression. And if there are teams in this new league playing in venues that are unsuitable for a "professional" league, it sends a bad message right from the jump. So the minimum operating standards that Baltimore Blast owner Ed Hale has mentioned, the owners collectively need to make sure it's not just lip service. That often has been the case in the United Soccer League. Don't get me wrong, there are some quality USL PRO franchises. But the USL lets teams in, takes owners' expansion fee money, then watches them struggle to put out a decent product. And all that does is hurt the credibility of the entire league, especially the teams that ARE doing it the right way. Be it a suitable stadium, poor (or no) marketing, a roster with too many sub-standard players because the owners don't generate enough revenue to pay them a decent wage, or something as simple as being able to make sure there is a quality live video feed for matches - all of it, when not done properly, sends the wrong message to fans.

This new indoor league will have some smart and savvy businessmen, but they're going to need to police their own and make sure every owner is at least trying to do it right in their market. Listen, I know it's minor-league sports. To a degree, they are what they are, but ... that shouldn't mean you don't give the fans something to see every night. These owners also need to realize that if they're getting into pro indoor soccer to make money right away, they're crazy. They must have realistic goals, deep enough pockets to sustain losses, patience and enough hard-working people on their small payroll to see this through and maybe, just maybe, indoor soccer will gain enough momentum to be around as one league - not two or three sprinkled around the country operating independent of each other.

"The problem has never been the product on the field. It more lies with the ownership, whether it's a lack of business acumen or owners not knowing exactly what they're getting into it," said Baltimore Blast coach Danny Kelly, who played for the Rhinos in 1996 and has played indoor in at least two different leagues. "If we have the right people in the right spots, there's no doubt in my mind this (new league) can work."

I hope that's the case. I hope, for the indoor game's sake, they don't let some PASL teams that do not live up to its standards in unless they pledge improvements right away. I'm not worried about the six MISL defectors. They'll be fine. And if you've never been to an indoor game you don't know that it really isn't soccer. It's a combination of hockey and basketball and maybe even some indoor lacrosse. It moves fast, when it's played right (and I'm not talking about stall ball; how about a shot clock?). It's a lot different than the outdoor game. But maybe it'd be smarter to start with 14 or 16 of the best clubs that have applied. Don't go with 20, or more, unless you're sure all of these owners can run their teams the right away. I'm not trying to throw water on the high spirits the indoor league folks will take with them to Baltimore for their first league meetings in mid-May. But I think smarter, rather than bigger, is the way to start.

THREE RHINOS HONORED: Midfielder JC Banks and rookie goalkeeper John McCarthy were named to the USL PRO's Team of the Week. Midfielder Minh Vu and defender Pat McMahon were honorable mention. Click here for the full team. Fourth-place Rochester (2-1-1) plays at third-place Richmond (2-1-2) on Friday night before traveling to 10th-place Wilmington (1-1-1) on Saturday night. Look for my preview tonight on our website and in print on Friday.

FLASH READY TO ROLL: I'll have a profile on new Western New York Flash (1-1) defender Kat Williamson later today and also in the print edition on Friday to preview the Flash's 7 p.m. home opener on Saturday night against Portland (2-0-1).

Sports striker:
Jeff DiVeronica covers all things sports. Known for his soccer coverage in Rochester the past two decades, now he tackles compelling stories in any sport. He’s opinionated, passionate and Italian. In fact, his first sports hero before Cal Ripken was Rocky Balboa. He also teaches a sports writing class at his alma mater, St. John Fisher College, and has hosted the Canandaigua National Bank &amp; Trust High School Sports Show, heard Saturdays at noon on Fox Sports 1280, since 2003. He and his wife, Chrissy, live in Webster with daughter, Francesca, and dog, Ernie.